The Shelter

Don't let pesky bugs ruin your night. No-See-Um netting keeps out the smallest critters while the silpoly tub-floor blocks moisture from below. The tapered shape uses space efficiently and improves usable room inside.

Dual front and side entry!
Outward leaning tub walls provide extra elbow room.
Tapered width and height for effiency.
~8" deep tub-floor.
Interior stash pockets on front door.
Magnetic door ties.
Hang loop/clip at front apex.
Curved sidewall and ridge seams for tauter pitch

The Bug Shelter is available in two lengths. The longer option provides an additional 6" (15cm) of length at the foot end. Please note that the additional length does not affect head or elbow room. Note that the longer Bug Shelter will work with either length of our Cirriform Tarp, but it will work a little better with the longer Cirriform.

To pitch, use the included rigging to clip the Bug Shelter's peaks and upper tub corners to your tarp (see the 'Rigging' tab for instructions). The tub-floor hangs from the upper corners; flexible stiffeners in the seams help the tub keep some shape. An optional 'stand-alone' rigging kit is available for quick pitches of the net-tent without a tarp (you can also pitch without the kit using your own rigging; see the 'Rigging' tab for instructions).

This net-tent is best paired with our Cirriform tarps but will also work with our tapered tarps (though with minimal overhang on the 7'/5' tarp).

NEW - The floor is now available in either 20D Silpoly for lower weight, or 40D Silpoly for better durability. 20D floors tend to be vulnerable to things like pine needles and may benefit from the addition of a groundsheet in some locations.

Made in the USA from imported fabric.

Specifications

Materials:

Floor: 20D Silpoly or 40D Silpoly available
- 20D Silpoly:
  -1.3 oz/yd²
  -Hydrostatic head: >4500mm
- 40D Silpoly:
  -1.8 oz/yd²
  -Hydrostatic head: ~2000mm
Netting: 0.6oz Nylon No-see-um

Waste:

Each net-tent produces roughly 3.2 oz of in-house waste.

Shelter Weight w/ 20D Floor:

Standard Length: 273g | 9.6 oz
Longer Length: 281g | 9.9 oz
Stuff sack: 8g | 0.27 oz

Shelter Weight w/ 40D Floor:

Standard Length: 352g | 12.4 oz
Longer Length: TBDg | TBD oz
Stuff sack: 8.5g | 0.30 oz

Rigging weight:

Included rigging:
15' x 1/16" shockcord: 0.38 oz | 11g
8 Mitten hooks: 0.28 oz | 8g
2 Barrel cord locks: 0.04 oz | 1g
Total: 0.69 oz | 20g
Note: Some rigging can be omitted or changed to reduce weight.

Stand-alone rigging (optional):
Front: 0.28 oz | 8g
Rear: 0.26 oz | 7g
Total: 0.54oz | 15g
(For more info, please see the rigging tab)

Dimensions:

Approx. packed size: 8" x 5" x 4" | 20cm x 13cm x 10cm
Interior length at ground level: Reg: 84" | 213cm // Long: 90" | 228.6cm
Interior length at top of tub: Reg: 88" | 223cm // Long: 94" | 238.8cm
Interior height: 40" - 25" | 101.5cm - 63.5cm (head - foot)
Interior width at ground level: 34" - 26" | 86cm - 66cm (head - foot)
Interior width at top of tub: 38" - 30" | 96.5cm - 76cm (head - foot)
Tub depth: 8" | 20cm
Floor area: 17.5ft² | 1.6m²

Required items if pitched alone (not under a tarp):

If paired with a tarp, you will likely not need any additional items beyond the included rigging. Otherwise, we recommend the following items (not included).

Front Pole: At least ~44" (~112cm)
Rear Pole: At least ~31" (~79cm)
Stakes: 6, or 4 if using our stand-alone rigging kit
Rigging: The optional stand-alone rigging kit -OR- guyline, and possibly grommets if using tent poles in place of trekking poles.

Optional Poles:

If you won't be using your trekking poles or tarp to support your shelter, you can use these optional tent poles.

Length:
Front Pole: ~44" | ~112cm
Rear Pole: ~31" | ~79cm
Folded length: ~20" | ~51cm
Weight:
Front Pole: 1.8 oz | 51g
Rear Pole: 1.3 oz | 37g
Total: 3.1 oz | 88g

Rigging/Pitching

Pitching Instructions

Download our PDF pitching guide here.

Included rigging

Your Bug Shelter comes with the following rigging included. This should be sufficient to connect the net-tent to many tarps.

1/16" Shockcord: 15 ft | 4.57m
Mitten hooks: 8
Mini Barrel cord locks: 2

Note: Partnering this with a Cirriform Tarp? Please see the bottom of the page for suggested cord lengths.

Installation Process

At the tub's top corners, connect the net-tent to the tarp's associated corner with a length of shock cord and a mitten hook.

At one end of the cord, tie a loop. We suggest a simple overhand loop knot.
At the other end of the cord, tie on a mitten hook. We suggest a clinch knot.
Attach the cord to the tub with a girth hitch. To do this, pass the cord through the webbing loop at the tub's corner, then pass the mitten hook through the looped end of the cord. Pull the mitten hook end to tighten everything up.

At the net-tent's peaks, connect the net-tent to the tarp's ridge/peaks with a length of shock cord and a mitten hook. A cord lock allows you to easily adjust the length of the cord.

Note: You will do the following twice; once for each end of the net-tent.
At one end of your cord, tie on a mitten hook. We suggest a clinch knot.
Thread the cord through the webbing loop at the net-tent's peak (front to back at the head end, and back to front at the foot end).
Tie a loop on the loose end of the cord. We suggest a simple overhand loop knot.

Stand-alone pitch (w/ optional rigging)

On nice nights, you may wish to pitch only your Bug Shelter with no tarp. Doing so is easy, and if you're using our optional stand-alone rigging kit, only requires four stakes and your poles (not included). Click here to see a diagram.

On each cord you'll find a grommet at the center and two loops tied at each end.
For each end of the net-tent, clip the shockcord running from the apex to the loop at the grommet.
Clip the shockcords running from the tub corners to the second loop up on each end of the cord.
Stake out the ends of the cords so the tub's corners are pulled evenly at all four corners
Insert your trekking poles (or our optional poles) into the grommets and tension the apexes as necessary using the cordlocks at the apex. Note that if your front pole is on the shorter side, you may need to lean it inward.
If you need to shorten the lines, move each stake and the lines up by one loop.

Stand-alone pitch (traditional method)

If you already have cord and/or want to forego the optional rigging kit, you can use a more traditional pitch with dedicated guylines running to each peak.

Stake out each corner so the tub is pulled evenly between them.
(You may find it beneficial to shorten the lines by clipping them back to the webbing loops at the tub's corners (basically fold the cord in half))
Run a guyline to each apex and stake them out.
Position your trekking poles (or our optional poles) vertically under these guylines, with the bases a few inches away from the ends of the shelter (length should be a few inches taller than the apex). Secure the guyline to your trekking pole by wrapping the cord around the basket, passing it through the strap, or using our guyline grommets.

Pitching with the Cirriform Tarp?

If you plan to partner your net-tent with our 1P or 2P Cirriform Tarp, we suggest cutting your cords to the lengths outlined below.

1P Cirriform Tarp

Front peak: ~10" | ~25cm
Rear peak: ~15" | ~38cm
Tub corners at front: ~16" | ~41cm
Tub corners at rear: ~12" | ~31cm
Midponts on edge of tub: ~10" | ~25cm

2P Cirriform Tarp

Front peak: n/a
Rear peak: n/a
Tub corners at front: n/a
Tub corners at rear: n/a
Midponts on edge of tub: n/a

Shelters